Plantain Tincture

Benefits: Plantain has a well-deserved reputation as a premier herb for insect bites and stings, and even snake bites. It will soothe mosquito bites and bee or wasp stings. It also calms the stings of stinging plants like poison ivy and stinging nettle.

Plantain is an effective diuretic and helps to remove toxins through the elimination channels of the kidneys. Its demulcent and astringent properties make it effective for diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and urinary tract infections. Plantain has also been shown to soothe and heal esophageal burns from acid reflux.

Plantain is good for respiratory conditions like coughs, colds, and bronchitis. It acts as an expectorant by thinning and moistening mucus. Its mild antibiotic actions and allantoin content make it a wonderful addition to wound poultices — drawing out debris, pus, and toxins while soothing with its mucilage and anti-inflammatory properties.

The polyphenols in plantain leaves also lower serum cholesterol, and the aucubin has been shown to decrease atherosclerosis. Its vulnerary, anti-inflammatory, demulcent, and mild antibiotic properties make it useful for healing mouth sores, mild gingivitis, gastritis, stomach ache, and mild ulcerations of the stomach or intestines. Its cooling, moistening properties make it useful for IBS, IBD, food poisoning, and leaky gut.

Herb Details:
Latin Name: Plantago major, P. lanceolata, P. ovata
Family: Plantaginaceae
Common Names: Broadleaf Plantain, Buckthorn Plantain, English Plantain, Narrow-leaved Plantain, Ribwort, Englishman's Foot, Snake Weed
Parts Used: Leaves
Herbal Actions: Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, astringent, demulcent, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, nutritive, vulnerary
Safety: Safe during pregnancy and lactation
Drug Interactions: May decrease effectiveness of carbamazepine and lithium.

Tinctures: Tinctures are alcohol extracts of herbs. They act a little more quickly in the body and are very portable. Tinctures can be taken alone or mixed with a little juice or water.

Recommended Servings for Humans
For chronic or maintenance issues, twice daily is usually sufficient. For acute situations, dosing can be done more frequently.
Tinctures for Adults: ¼ to 1 teaspoon 2–3 times daily.

DO NOT use herbs on children without consulting a physician.

*These statements have not been verified by the FDA and are only referenced here as a fun fact and/or for historical commentary, and are not to be used as medical advice in any way. Consult your doctor before ingesting any herbal product. None of these items or statements are approved by the FDA. Consult your physician before taking any supplement. Do not take herbs or tinctures during pregnancy without consulting your healthcare provider. This product is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease. All information here is for entertainment and educational purposes only.